Have you ever felt like a failure because you set out to achieve something and things just didn't quite work out as smoothly as you imagined? Have you ever stopped just short of your goal because of wrong thinking? Have you considered that just because you fail at something doesn't mean YOU are a failure? Well, me too! Certainly we are in good company! Lots of successful people fail their way to the top...but what separates the "failures" from those who reach their dreams? Especially when the very same opportunities are given, yet one person fails miserably while the other person flourishes?
Mindset. What I have learned so far along my journey may seem elementary to some, but it has been groundbreaking for me! In fact, applying this concept is why I am even writing this blog entry! You see, I started this blog just over a year ago in January 2015, and here it is February 2016 as I sit and write my third entry, from my home office.
I couldn't have done this without beating myself up a year ago, and it is just that type of defeated mindset and negative thinking that routinely robbed me of being consistent and disciplined in my goals and in my daily life as recently as last year. But even before the end of January 2015, I began to realize that my thoughts and attitudes were my biggest obstacle, and I set out on a path to begin to change that. In doing so, I had one of the most phenomenal years of my life, seemingly without even trying. In March I restarted my career in real estate, in June we enjoyed our first real family vacation with the kids, in October I celebrated my 20 year high school reunion back home in the state of Michigan.
Also, in October, was my first solo art venture, selling my handmade jewelry alongside my mom, Susan Swanson, the ceramic artist.(susanswansonceramics.com)
Then in November, I was even invited to preach my first sermon, and did so, with a confidence that I had only known as a five year old girl. I even opened an online store on Etsy in November, which I had wanted to do for at least two years! (www.etsy.com/shop/ArtForTheHeartGifts) Finally, in December my husband and I enjoyed a cruise to the Bahamas, our first vacay without the kids since our honeymoon in 2007!
I know its nothing short of the grace of God, but I can attest to the truth that even with God, you can go around and around the same mountain getting no further to the top, simply because of wrong thought patterns and beliefs. So for me, to do all of these things that at one point in time seemed impossible to my limited thinking, was nothing short of amazing!
So what happened? How did the transformation occur? I began to give myself permission to be free. I shifted my thoughts from limitation and lack to abundant possibilities. I purposely made a habit of forcing myself to be thankful when all my old attitude wanted to do was complain. I started down the path of freeing myself from perfectionism and moving into more purposeful action. I'm not going to sit here and pretend like any of this was easy or like it happened overnight, or even like I have it all together now. But in just one year, I was able to realize some personal goals that had taken me almost a decade to manifest simply because of possessing the wrong mindset. Now, by accepting myself as I am, I am feeling freer and enjoying my life more.
What are some areas of your life where you recognize the way you think is getting in your way? Take a moment to acknowledge an area or two of your personal weaknesses that you would like to see change this year and write down at least three of your personal strengths for each weakness. If you are feeling too negative to even come up with any strengths, then you may want to ask a friend or two. (I said a friend. You know, not the critical cousin you have who is always in competition with you or the cutthroat co-worker who smiles in your face and talks behind your back!) Also, take time to close your eyes and use your imagination to really envision and dream about your life the way you truly want it to be. Imagine it in detail, including what it would feel like, taste like, smell like, etc. Live your life by design and empower yourself to be free from what has happened to you by deciding what you are going to do about it!
Let's manifest our best in 2016!
Lots of love,
Mrs. Sara Harvey
